Default Configuration Update Requests

When Trinity installs initially, we want Trinity to provide a solid, well thought out default configuration settings. KDE3 defaults always left many setting that had to be updated with each and every install. With Trinity we have an opportunity to improve that situation. This page is meant to capture those default settings you notice during Trinity install that could be changed or updated to make Trinity more functional by default.

The default settings are called Preferences for a reason. Everybody will have a slightly different take on what they prefer. The purpose here is not to dictate what the preferences should be, but rather to look at the current settings, take suggestions on changes and see if Trinity can be made better by default. If you see settings that could be better set by default, please drop a note here so the developers can have a list of suggested defaults as they work through the SVN code preparing for the next release.

Kcontrol Default Setting Proposals

The following are changes to the current default settings listed by where they are found in kcontrol. It looks like there have been multiple defaults pulled from different installs that have wound up at the default settings in Trinity. If you have setting preferences you think make sense as default settings, please list them below for consideration. If you don't like some of the proposals, please just drop a note in the entry explaining why.

[+] Appearance & Themes

tbd

[+] Desktop

Main entries on the kcontol tree (left side) are shown as headings below, tabs within an entry are shown as [tab name] under the heading. (eg. kcontrol -> Desktop -> Window Behavior -> [Titlebar Actions] )

Multiple Desktops

Panels

[Arrangement] Size: small (originally it is set to small when you load the desktop, but if you change anything in 'Panels' it springs back to medium because the setting is 'medium' -- so this needs to be made consistent)

[Hiding] - remove the [x] Show right panel-hiding button (it just takes up space and clutters the clock/date area and inadvertently hides the panel when clicking on the date for a calendar) I would ask we keep this - depending on the reason for hiding the task bar, it is important to have the ability to slide it to the right or left - the voice of practical experience -- JohnSullivan - 01 Mar 2011

[+] System & Administration

Login Manager

General: 10pt (8pt provides a slightly cleaner look) - Do NOT go to 8pt, it's too small to read comfortably for people with less-than-perfect eyesight -- E. Liddell
Failures: 10pt
Greeting: 14pt (22pt is way to big...)

Paths

Documents path: /home/$USER (nix the Documents portion of the path, just start at the users home)

File Dialog

kdelibs/kio/kfile/kfiledialog.cpp?

The file-open dialog quick access should contain a link to the root filesystem for navigation (if not for all -- at least for root or when running an app under kdesu). Currently you must manually rt-click the quick access area and 'Add Entry' for every desktop install and add '/' as a quick access entry. Generally the entry is added as Root Filesystem or something similar. An update to kdelibs/kio/kfile/? seems like where this might be done. This would (1) eliminate repeated configuration of the entry and (2) make it easier for users to navigate up to / and then back down the tree to where ever they need to go -- eliminating repetitive clicks on the up-arrow button on the dialog..

Konqueror

konqueror -> Settings -> Configure konqueror

Behavior:
[x] - rename icons inline
Previews & Meta-Data:
Maximum file size: 6.0 MB
Web behavior:
Bookmarks:
[x] Ask for name and folder when adding bookmarks
[x] Show only marked bookmarks in the bookmarks toolbar
Tabbed Browsing:
[x] Open links in a new tab instead of a new window
[x] Hide tab bar when only one tab is open
<Advanced Options>
[x] Open new tabs in the background
[x] Open new tab after current tab
(should be modified in code for only tabs launched by link in current page)
[ ] Confirm when closing windows with multiple tabs
[ ] Show close button instead of website icon
[ ] Open popups in new tab instead of in new window
[x] Activate previous tab when closing current tab ('used' can be omitted)
[x] Open as tab in existing Konqueror when URL is called externally
Fonts:
Minimum font size: 6
Medium font size: 10 (12 is way too big) - depends on the font face (specifically, font height-to-width ratio) -- E. Liddell
Web Shortcuts: (to be added in addition to existing)
[x] CIA World Factbook
[x] Merriam Webster - Thesaurus
[x] OpenPGP, Key Search
<developer suggestions relevant to Trinity (Qt4 could also be added)>
[x] PHP Search
[x] Python Reference Manual
[x] Qt3 Online Documentation
[x] Sourceforge

Default Keyboard Shortcuts

The cornerstone of kde3 has always been efficiency. How to do the most with the absolute minumum of keystrokes or mouse-clicks. Minimizing the number of times the user must switch between the mouse and keyboard or reposition their hands after some awkward ctrl-F11 type shortcut. Minimizing the distance between the logical order of input fields or buttons in the desktop layout. This should continue in Trinity.

I propose the following as default keyboard shortcuts incorporating the 'Win' key. Try them out and you will be amazed how much simpler switching desktops and moving windows between desktops becomes using the keyboard. (the Win key is also in the correct location to prevent losing your finger position over the 'F' and 'J' keys and completely having to reposition your hands after affecting a switch or move from the keyboard.

In kdeglobals:

Walk Through Desktops=Win+Tab
Switch to Next Desktop=Win+Right
Switch to Previous Desktop=Win+Left
Window to Next Desktop=Win+Alt+Right
Window to Previous Desktop=Win+Alt+Left